Ufo Blaster version 1.0 now up

aussiefaz

Hi everyone, I published my first ever Game Salad game on the weekend. Its in the arcade at http://arcade.gamesalad.com/game/120423

I finally got it into review in itunes yesterday after some complications and me not understanding what I was doing fully.

I have to thank gsanimator.com for the aircraft template on this, as it helped me get going. It gave me the idea as to what I could do and build on.

The published version is straight off the template, but Ive put into it all new graphics and a few little tweaks.

Now that I'm aware it can take over a week to be put into the itunes store, Ive starting to work on the next version and make it more complicated, especially after discovering that my two boys and myself are getting high scores too easily.

The update will have a new enemies that comes in at different point brackets, randomly move around the screen and also fire back at the hero. I think I'll have to add in some extra powerups for the hero as well.

Have to admit, I'm having a lot of fun working on it, my wife keeps looking at me and smiling at my enthusiasm.

Anyways, here's some of the original screen shots

quantumsheep

I gave it a play, and it looks very nice.

What I'd do next is look at pacing. Play something like Galaga and take note of how the game is structured and how it scales its difficulty (you'll notice that after level 10, it gives you an 'easy' level, for example. This is pacing - let players 'breathe' now and again).

Additionally, a game like this really needs relative touch - having your thumb over the ship means you cannot see the ship. An unnecessary difficulty.

Finally, I get that one-hit kills are back in fashion, but I'm not sure it suits this type of game!

Hope that helps,

QS

EDIT: Also, I would make it so that the enemy explosion do NOT kill you. That's just silly!

SmokeyAce73

@quantumsheep said:
Additionally, a game like this really needs relative touch - having your thumb over the ship means you cannot see the ship. An unnecessary difficulty.

I did the same with my game PaddleUp! and you could not see the paddle when your finger was over it

aussiefaz

thanks for the advice Quantum Sheep, the idea on pacing is a good one, I'll have to learn more on that.

With the relative touch, are you suggesting maybe having a directional controller? Its something I've thought about, especially as you mentioned you cant see the hero when your thumb is over him

Having more than 1 hit kills is definitely something worth looking into, maybe I can do it so as they collect say a heart it increases life expectancy?

The explosions part was something that came about for some weird reason. I haven't worked out how to get the animation to die once run. Everything I've tried leaves it on the screen. I guess more learning is required for this to work.

I spent some time on it last night and have now added in a new enemy that moves randomly along X at same time as moving forward along Y, plus it shoots back every so often, but this all only happens once the score reaches 800

aussiefaz

Ok, Ive released the latest version now.

Still requires Relative touch to control the hero. I have to work on that.

With this release, the hero can now gain life 3 times by destroying an asteroid that appears once the score reaches 750, 1400 and 2500.

Also at 800 a new enemy appears randomly that moves forwards on Y and randomly on X plus shoots back a bullet. Then at 1500 another enemy appears randomly that moves forwards on Y and randomly on X plus shoots back 2 bullets.

The game has now become a little more challenging but also allows the hero to have a chance of surviving.

I've also been able to destroy the explosion animations, so that they don't harm the hero, plus all enemies are now animated as well.

Very happy with this version, and my two boys are enjoying playing the adhoc versions on their ipad mini's.

Currently sending it to itunes for review

aussiefaz

UfoBlaster is now finally available in the itunes app store.

It can be downloaded here https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ufo-blaster/id857688625?ls=1&mt=8